French's International Ccpjrrighted (in England, her Colonies, and th( 

United States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 

No. 3og. I 
S 

OUli MINISTER'S BRIDE I 

5f - cj"^^ " a €omel»p in <©nc act !!! 




* *- 

BV * 

i "EVELYN WATSON" S 

I i 

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$ « 

W Copyright, 191 i, by Samuel French J 

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»»i»»»»»»»»»»»>^»>^^»>^^>»»»»»»»»)^ 



OUR MINISTERS BRIDE 



3C Comctip in <©ne 3lct« 



BY 



"EVELYN WATSON" 



Copyright, 191 i, by vSamuel French 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38TH STREET 



London 

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26 Southampton Street, 

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OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 



Cast of Characters. 

Elizabeth Sutton, nee Gray, TU Minister's Bride 

Martha Trueheart Her closest friend 

hAMANTHA Trueheart Martha's aunt 

Mrs. Sneer ) 

Mrs. Pry ) ' * -^^^ village gossips 

Mrs. Placid ^ peacemaker 

Mrs. Soberly a seHous lady 

J^ALLY , ;^^Q Sutton's maid 



Time.— To-day. 

Place. — Morristown, a small village. 



TMP92-007534 
CCI.D 24056 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE, 



SC^ENE: — The living-room of Rev. Mr. Sutton's 
honse. Meeting of Ladies' Aid Society. 

CURTAIlSr. 

(Sali.y discovered dusting.) 

Sally. Dis snttenly is the most dustiest place I 
ever seen. Can't nebber get it clean — 'Tain't fitten 
fnr no bride, (goes round grumhling and straight- 
ening up) It's mighty strange to have Miss Lizbeth 
back and not in her own house. 

(Enter Elizabeth with light wrap, and flowers in 
her hands.) 

Eliza BK'j'Li. Look, Sally, what I found in the 
.<<aj"den — A few late roses and some sweet allysum. 
Xow I'll have a bouquet. See if you can find me a 
bowl, Sally. 

Sally. 0' course, I kin. 

(Exit Sally.) 

(Elizabeth fakes off wraps and lays them on a 
chair. ) 

Elizabeth. Heigh! I don't know what I'd do 
without Sal]y. It is certainly lonesome here. 

(Enter Sally.) 

Sally. This do, Miss Lizbeth? Its the onliest 

thiijg I cud fin' 

3 



4 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

Elizabeth. Oh, yes. That's just tlie thing, 
Sally. (takes bowl and arranges flowers — Sally 
stands behind, a little to the right watching) 

Sally. Too bad Mr. Sutton had to go' to Wate'- 
town to-day — kin a lonesome for you all. 

Elizabeth. Well I have you, Sally. 

Sally. Yas'm — oh, yas'ni ! An' I'm ust to 
keepin' comp'n'y with ladies — yas'm. One night me 
and ole Miss Clark wuz all alone in de big ole house — 
and pres'n'ly we heard the awfull'st soun'. 

Elizabeth. Oh, come now, Sally ! You'll give 
me the horrors if you begin telling any of those old 
ghost stories. 

Sally. Oh, no'm. Dey ain' no ghos' stories. 

Elizabeth. Well, they're the next thing to it; 
tell me something pleasant. How's Sam, Sally? 

Sally, (turning round in disgust) Sam — 
Don' talk to me 'bout Sam. He's de triflingest 
niggah as ever I saw. He done lef his Sunday hat 
hanging in de cohn fiel' all night in dat pourin' rain 
— an' ma just guv it to him for a present (gives 
chair a jerk) Tiaw me, Satan jiss got his han' ready 
for Sam — He sure gwine ketch him some day — 
Sam — he's jiss too lazy to draw his bref — He is — 
Don' ask me 'bout Sam 

Elizabeth. Very well, Sally — I'll not ask you 
again. Have you everything ready ? 

Sally. Yas'm. All but de tray and I'm gwine to 
fix that now 

(Exit Sally, left,) 

Elizabeth. Oh, dear! How I do dread to meet 
those old Tabbies ! It's awful to be expected to live 
up to other people's ideals — I shall never make good. 
(turns to table and rearranges flowers) There — 
That's better ! — Martha will stand by me, I am sure — 
She's a darling, (looks at clock) Two o'clock — and 
they will be here in a half an hour, and not one of 
them knows that I am the Minister's Bride, (bell 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 5 

rings, jumps up, run to 11. stage) For gracious sakes ! 
That can't be one of the ladies. 

{Enter Sally.) 

Sally. Miss Lizbeth, they's a boy at the door 
askin' for you. Ole Miss Huggins is dying, and she 
asked special to see you, I tole him as the Minister 
was not in town an he says Miss Huggins don' want 
no minister. She wants you. 

Elizabetil But T cant go. The ladies will be 
hei-e ill half an hour. And there's no one else to 
receive them. 

Sally. He says ole Miss Huggins can't las' long, 
an she jess wanted to see you for a minute. 

Elizabeth, {distracted comes forward center) 
What shall! do! — I hate to refuse the poor old 
thing — {looks at clock) twenty-seven minutes. Sally, 
I'll try it — it's not far, and if anybody comes before 
I return, just tell them I was called out for a moment. 
{seizes hat and cape and runs out) 

Sally, {sitting in chair) It's a blessing Miss 
Lizbeth has me. Po' chile, — an she the gayest and 
smil ingest young miss as ever was ! Bless her sweet 
face ! Jess like Miss Huggins to pick out dis time to 
pass away. Been pindlin' along dese las' eight years, 
and now up and dies, jiss when Miss Lizbeth ought 
to be at home, {hell rings right) Law me. Hope 
no one else wants Miss Lizbeth ! I sure wouldn't 
know what to say. 

{Exit Sally and returns tvith middle-aged lady.) 

Mrs. Pry. Why, Sally, I didn't know you were 
at the minister's house. How long have you been 
here? 

Sally. Yas'm, oh, yas'm. De bride say as she'd 
lak to hev a pusson 0' some 'sperience to start her out, 
so Miss Gray sent me down. 

Mrs. Pry. Then you know all about her? 

Sally. Suttenly, ma'am — I suttenly do. She 



6 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

had to go out, Mrs. Pry — Miss Huggins is dying and 
sent for her, but she'll be back soon. Jess make 
yourself at home, she say — (starts out, then turns 
and says) I spose you come extra early to get 
quainted — She didn' spec any one till ha' pas' two ! 

(Bell rings again.) 

Mrs. Pry. I'll washer that's Mirabel Sneer. She 
thought she'd be the first one. 

(Sally ushers in Mrs. Sneer.) 

Mrs. Pry. Ah, Mirabel-— you here? I dropped 
in early to see if T could help Mrs. Sutton, but 

Mrs. Sneer, (cautiously) Where is she? 

Mrs. Pry. (pompously) Called to the bedside 
of a dying woman. 

Mrs. Sneer, (eagerly) WHio? 

Mrs. Pry. (solemnly) Mrs. Huggins. 

Mrs. Sneer. Is she really dying this time? 
{loohmg round curiously) Same old furniture! 

Mrs. Pry. Of course, Mirabel. People who gei 
married tliat way never get any wedding presents. 

Mrs. Sneer. Well I certainly am crazy to see her. 
Just think — no one even knows who she was or how 
she looks ! 

Mrs. Pry. Or whether she's old, or young, or ugly 
or — ^Dear me — I can't understand it. 

Mrs. Sneer. Weren't you amazed when Mr. 
Sutton made that announcement Sunday ? I thought 
Samantha was going to faint when he said we would 
Iiavc the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Sutton at the 
f>adies' Aid to-day. 

^[rs. Pry. And now to have her called away in 
this stupid fashion, just when we might have had 
suidi a good look at her. 

Mrs. Sneer. Well — I don't wish to say anything 
against Mrs. Sutton — But it certainly does seem 
to 11 )e that it Avould have been much more fitting for 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 7 

Mr. Sutton to have chosen a bride from amongst his 
oivn flock, instead of picking up some stray woman 
while he was away on his very first vacation. 

Mrs. Pry. I cannot but agree with you, Mirabel— 
and yet the girls these days are so trifling. I hardly 
know whom he could have chosen — Martha True- 
heart, perhaps. 

Mrs. Sneer. Heavens! That rattlepated child! 
Why she's too blunt for a Minister's wife. She 
speaks right out lust what she thinks— and that 
would never do. Some older person would have been 
more suitable. 

Mrs. Pry. Miss Samantha nerhaps— Tee, hee ! 
(laughs) 

Mrs. Sneer. Mercy sakes, Lou, wouldn't she have 
been a catastrophe. 

(Bell rings— Sally ushers in Mrs. Soberly.) 

Mrs. Soberly. How do, Mrs. Pry ? How do Mrs. 
Sneer? (looks around) Where's the bride? 

Mrs. Pry. Mrs. Hu?o-ins is dying and sent for 
her. She will be back in a little while. 

Mrs. Soberly. Bridget Hugsrins dying? Poor 
old soul, how she has suffered. And Mrs. Sutton has 
gone out? — but you have seen her? 

Mrs. Pry. Oh, no — she had gone before we came. 

(Enter Samantha and Martha.) 

Mrs. Sneer. Why, Miss Samantha, I didn't know 
you were able to be out. How do, Miss Martha? 
My but you look sweet. New clothes again— oh. 
these girls, these girls ! 

Martha. They're not new, Mrs. Sneer— though 
I surely am pleased that you think they are.— 
But Where's Mrs. Sutton? 

Mrs. Pry. She's gone to see Mrs. Husrdns who 
is dying— But she'll be here presentlv. 

Martha. Did you know Elizabeth Gray was 
back? Peter said he saw her get off the train thit^ 
morning. 



8 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

Mrs. Pl^Y. No ! — well she is awful close-mouthed, 
I^]]izabeth is. I suppose she'll be too busy to come 
to-day if she's just got home. 

Martha. N'o — she's coming. I stopped at the 
house on the way. Molly came to the door giggling 
as usual — and said Elizabeth had gone to the Aid. 
There she is now ! (runs up to her as Elizabeth 
pniers, shakes her gently) 

Martha. You mean thing! Whv didn't you 
write me that you were coming back to-day? (kisses 
he?') 

Elizabeth. I didn't know positively you see — it 
was all rather sudden (shakes hands with all) and 
mother and father will not return till to-night — 
Rut T did not want to miss the Ladies' Aid. 

Mrs. Sneer. Well, my dear, we are glad to see 
you back — Morrisville must seem stupid after travel- 
ing so many places. 

Elizabeth (atvkwardly) I hope I shall like 
Morrisville better than ever — — 

Martha, (interrupting) Here are the aprons, 
ladies. We might as well get to work so that Mrs. 
Sutton will see we are really an " Aid Society " and 
not a Scandal Club. 

Samantha. (severely) Martha, my dear, I do 
wish you would express yourself a little more dis- 
creetly. The Truehearts were always noted for 
their ladylike behavior — (to Mrs. Sneer) By the 
way, did you notice Sylvia Tremaine's new hat Sun- 
day? 

Mrs. Sneer. Notice it! One couldn't very well 
help it — Such colors! (rolls eyes) Every time I 
tried to see Mr. Sutton's face, that great green bow 
loomed up ahead. 

Mrs. Pry. 'Tisn't half as bad as Nellie Perry's — 
Positively I had a stiff neck when I got home from 
church Sunday. 

. Mrs. Soberly. Well, it's hard to believe that such 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 9 

hats can be becoming. But T certainly tliouo-ht tbcy 
both looked mighty pretty. 

Samantha. Oh, becoming enough, but tlien liow 
inconsiderate ! 

Mrs. Sneer. Well, you can't expect much of a 
ii^irl who has such a mother as Nellie has. 

Mrs. Pry. She's been visitin.a: the TTorneis at 
dray's Point, (to Elizabeth) Elizabeth, you had 
quite a trip this summer didn't you? We want to 
hear all about it. You spent some time at Gratiot. 
didn't you? 

Elizabeth, {shyly) Oh, yes — in fact I spent 
most of the summer there. 

Mrs. Pry. Then you had a chance to see a good 
deal of Mr. Sutton, 1 suppose? 

Elizabeth, (hlushing) Oh, yes — of course. 

Mrs. Sneer. Well we are just dying to hear all 
about it — you see we hadn't heard a word — till Mr. 
Sutton said Sunday that he had to go to Watertown 
to-day — but his hride would be here to be hostess, at 
the first meeting of the Ladies' Aid Society — You 
can guess that was a thunderbolt ! 

Martha, (interrupting) Why, Elizabeth, you 
haven't any apron — here's one for you — Pray don't 
imagine that you can sit around and be an ornament 
— even if you do look like a love in that charming 
dress — whj^ where's Mrs. Placid? There she comes 
now! 

(Enter Mrs. Placid.) 

Mrs. Placid. How dy'e do, my dears? Well. 
Elizabeth, I didn't know you were back — How do, 
Miss Samantha? How do, Mrs. Pry? (whispering) 
Where's the bride? 

Mrs. Pry. (softly) We're expecting her every 
minute — Mrs. Huggins was dying and sent for her, 
but she'll be back. 

(Enter Sally d. l.) 

Sally, (aside to Elizabeth) Miss Lizbeth, 



10 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

thev's all here now — How soon shall T bring in the 
tea? 

Elizabeth. Not for a few minutes yet, Sally — 
But vou mustn't call me Miss Elizabeth any more, 
Sally'; 

Sally. Law me. I jess natchilly can't help it, 
Miss Lizbeth. He, he — 'Scuse me Miss — he — he 
{Exit Sally) 

Martha. Here's your apron, Mrs. Placid — Dear 
me — where is my thimble? (sits near Elizabeth 
making accounts in hook of expenses of Ladies' Aid 
on left side of stage) 

Samantha. Martha Trueheart, don't tell me 
you've lost that thimble again. You know that 
thimble belonged to your sainted Aunt Miranda, and 
it would break your ma's heart if it was lost. 

Martha. (finds it) Cheer up, dear Aunt 
Samantha^^ — Here it is. 

Samantha. (to Mrs. Soberly) That child 
just keeps me on pins and needles. She's so irre- 
sponsible. 

Mrs. Soberly. Yes, yes. When I was young, 
girls were not allowed to talk so much, and con- 
sequently they had more time to store away things 
in their brains. 

^Irp. Placid. Ah, well — the dear young things. 
Their hearts are in the right place. 

Sama.vttta. That's all very well, my dear Mrs. 
Placid. But suppose our honored pastor had raar- 
i'ied soiiie young rattle-pated creature like Martha — 
Think what a misfortune for our church ! 

Mrs. Sneer, (tvho has moved up to group of 
l.adies at right of center of stage — out of earshot of 
\L\RTHA and Elizabeth) But my dear Samantha, 
how do vou know he hasn't? After all, who has seen 
her? 

Mrs. Soberly. Oh, surely our noble shepherd 
would have better judgment than to bring into our 
midst some feather-brained society miss ! 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. H 

Mrs. Pry. You can't always tell about ministers. 
They have some mighty queer ways. Why, didn't 
Cousin Jane just write me the other day that their 
minister had married a poor widow with nine chil- 
dren. And when one of the Deacons asked him what 
possessed him to do such a thing, he said — " He 
thought the children would heln swell the ranks of 
the Sunday School. 

Mrs. Placid. Dear me, I should call that Home 
Missionary work. 

Samantha. Well I do think a minister ought to 
be more careful about his choice than most men. 

Mrs. Placid. 'Tisn't human nature to be careful 
about loving — if you are, 'tisn't love at all — and I 
gUGvSs no one would like a minister to marry someone 
he didnt love! 

Mrs. Soberly. Oh, my dear, what a painful 
thought ! 

Mrs. Pry. Well, what sort of a woman would you 
think a ininister's wife ought to be? 

Samantha. {hesitating) WeU. I think she 
ought to be discreet and 

Mrs. Pry. Wait, Samantha ! Ladies — Samantha's 
going to tell us what kind of a woman a minister's 
wife ought to be. 

Elizabeth. (frightened) Oh, please — that's 
hardly fair, is it? 

Mrs. Pry. { mis understanding) Why not? we're 
all friends here, I hope! 

Mrs. Sxeer. Yes, of course, go on. (Elizabeth 
turns away hurt) Samantha — Let's hear. 

Samantha. Well, I was just saying, she ought 
above all to be discreet and — I — ^I don't think she 
ought to be too young (Mrs. Sneer nudges Mrs. 
Pry) for she ought to have some experience as a 
lielpmate — (pause) 

Mrs. Sneer, (expectantly) Well? 
Samantha. Nor too good-looking — because that 
causes jealousy 



12 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

Mrs. Soberly, {nodding) That's true! 

Samanttia. She ought to dress very quietly 

Martha, {sarcastically) Out of style, do you 
mean ? 

Sa]mantha. Martha, please do not interrupt me. 
A ruinister's wife — if she is the right hind, has not 
time to think about the style. 

]\rRs. Pry. Go on, Samantha! 

SA]\rANTiiA. She ought to have a good disposi- 
tion — and {looking pointedly at Martha) not be so 
bright tliat she must always be showing off what she 
knows. 

Martha, {to Elizabeth) That's one for me! 

Samantha. She should be quiet and 

MartHuV. {interrupting) Aunt Samantha, do 
you know what you've said? Practically 3^ou said 
that she must be ,9///, she must be old, ugly, dowdy 
and stupid! x\nd yet you want some charming 
young minister to pretend to fall in love with her. 

Samantha. {i7i a loiv shocked voice) Martha 
Trueheart, I certainly blush for you ! I appeal to 
the ladies, have I said any of these things? 

]\Irs. Placid, {trying to pacify her) Of course 
not, Samantha. Martha is only joking. 

Mrs. Sneer, (suddenly looking at Elizabeth's 
apron) Why, Elizabeth, what have you done to your 
apron ? 

EiiiZABKTH. {stOirtUd) I — I — 'don't know. 
What's the matter with it? 

Mrs. Sneer, {holding it up, apron is all sewed 
together and drawn in ridiculous manner) Ladies, 
wliat do you think of this — Has Elizabeth Gray 
lost her mind? 

Elizabeth {annoyed) Please don't call me 
that! 

Mrs. Sneer, {puzzled) Call you what? 

Elizabeth. Elizabeth Gray. 

Sally, {interrupting) Here's a letter for you — 
Mrs. Sutton. 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 13 

1^]lizabetii. For me? 

Sally. Yas'm — De pos' man just brought it. 

(Exit) 

Mrs. Sneer, (in amazement) Mrs. Sutton — 
i/ou ^Irs. Sutton! 

Eliza RETH. Why yes — what's the matter (all 
are paralyzed tvifh wonder — di'op aprons and stare) 

Elizabeth, (almost crying) Oh, I knotv, I'm 
not what T ou.a^ht to be ! I'm not any of the things 
Samantha said — But I hoped you'd all help me and 
— and 

Martha. You? You Mrs. Sutton? 

Elizabeth. Why yes — didn't you get my letter? 

Martha. Letter? tvhat letter? 

Elizabeth. Why I wrote and told you all about 
it — oh, dear, and you didn't get it ! 

Mar^j^ha. (comprehending) Oh, you darling. 
(hugs and hisses her) "Ladies, (dragging her for- 
ward) This is Mrs. Sutton, the pastor's bride. All 
step right up and congratulate her ! (all press for- 
ward and shake hands) 

Mrs. Placid. Dear me — This is a surprise — 
{crossing her hands peacefully) Well, I knew, Mr. 
Sutton would choose the right person — and one of his 
own flock, after all. 

Mrs. Pry. Well, my dear, this is rather star- 
tling — Of course we're all glad its you — but 

Mrs, Sneer. Yes, of course we are, but how on 
earth 

Samantha. (severely) How long has this been 
going on, pray? 

Elizabetli. (apologetically) I was as much 
surprised as you are. I never thought I should be a 
minister's wife. 

Martha. Why not, I'd like to know ! You've a 
sweet disposition, at least, and you are not always 
showing off what you know, (looks at Samantha 
roguiMy) Of course, you're rather pretty — ^That's 



14 OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 

bad — and decidedly stylish — another drawback — and 
you're a little young. But you're certainly discreet — 
That's a point in your favor. 

Sally, {bringing in tray) Miss Lizbeth — here's 
the tea. 

Elizabeth, {relieved) All right, Sally, but I 
told you not to call me Miss Elizabeth. 

Sally. 'Sense me, honey — Mrs. Sutton ! 

Mrs. Pry. Then you knew all the time — Sally, 
v/hy didn't you tell us ! 

Sally. Me? — law sakes. Miss Lizbeth ('sense 
me) Mrs. Sutton — she don' like me to talk 'bout 
things ! 

Martha. Good for you, Sally. Even the minis- 
ter's maid — must be discreet. {spitefully) Mrs. 
Sneer, I believe you take five lumps of sugar? 

Mrs. Sneer. {embarrassed) Yes — I — I like 
things prettv sweet. 

Elizabeth, {tactfully) So do I, Mrs. Sneer. 
Aren't these very small lumps? 

Martha, {aside) Score, one, for Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth. Mrs. Soberly, you like lemon I know 
— and here's some in this dish — Samantha. there's 
toast for you. 

Samantha. {gratified^ What made you go to 
all that trouble ? ' 

Elizabeth. It wasn't any trouble. Sallv did it 
all — Mrs. Pry, the thin bread is on that side, {to 
Mrs. Placid) Put this cushion behind you — Sally 
pass the cakes. {Pause) 

Mrs. Placid. Well, well, Elizabeth, you certainly 
have taken us unawares. 

Mrs. Pry. I should think so ! Now tell us all 
about it. 

Martha. Mercy ! Give the poor thing a chance — 
We've badgered her nearly out of her wits already. 

Samantha. {acidly) It seems to me, Martha, 
that you have been doing most of the talking. 

Elizabeth, {sweetly) There isn't reallv very 



OUR MINISTER'S BRIDE. 15 

much to tell, (pause — she looks doivn and moves 
hands nervonshj) He — he just asked me — and I — 
T said, yes ! 

Martha. (heartily) Of course you did, you 
darling, (stands behind chair with one arm on her 
(Elizabeth's shoulder) And now instead of having 
an old, stiff, stupid, prig — the kind that Aunt Sa- 
mantha describes — for a Minister's wife 

Samantha. Martha! 

Martha. Well, I mean it — Instead of that, 
we're going to have a dear, lovable, human creature, 
v/ith faults just like our own, and a heart big enough 
and tender enough to forgive everybody and every- 
thing ! 

Elizabeth, (blushing and shaking head) Oh, 
Martha, Martha ! 

8 ALLY. Dats so — it sure am so ! 



(KuzABETir motions to Sally to go out — she si 
back. Mrs. Soberly^ tvipes aivay a tear and 
sniffs a little.) 

Martha. Well, there's no one who needs more 
ludp and encouragement than a Minister's wife — and 
we're all going to help — Aren't we? 

AiJ,. (nodding heads) We will,- — we will. 

Ma]{til\. At least I for one, shall promptly and 
per^istentlv declare that evervthing Elizabeth Sutton 
does is — 

ALL RIGHT. 

CURTAIN. 



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